FAQ: EES, ETIAS, 90/180 and passports

Topic: EES (Entry/Exit System)

### Is EES live?
Yes. Rollout started 12 October 2025 and EES has been fully operational at all external Schengen borders since 10 April 2026. It records fingerprints, a facial image and each entry and exit in place of passport stamps. https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/news/entryexit-system-ees-fully-operational-2026-04-10_en

### Do I have to register for EES online before I travel?
No. Registration happens at the border. The free Travel to Europe app lets you pre-submit data up to 72 hours ahead at some entry points only; anyone selling "EES registration" is a scam. https://travel-europe.europa.eu/ees/Travel-to-Europe-mobile-app

### Do children give fingerprints?
No, not under 12. A facial image is still taken, and each child is registered in their own right.

### Who is exempt from EES?
EU, Icelandic, Liechtenstein, Norwegian and Swiss citizens; nationals of Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and the Vatican; holders of a long-stay visa or residence permit from an EES country; and non-EU family members of EU/EEA/Swiss citizens holding a residence card. Residence permits from Cyprus or Ireland do not exempt you. https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/news/entry-exit-system-fully-operational-10-april-2026-who-exempt-2026-07-27_en

### How long does EES keep my data?
3 years per entry, exit or refusal record; your personal file is deleted 3 years and 1 day after your last exit if you don't return. An overstay with no exit recorded is kept 5 years. https://travel-europe.europa.eu/ees/data-held-by-ees

Topic: ETIAS

### Do I need ETIAS to travel in 2026?
No. ETIAS is not in operation, you cannot apply, and you don't need one. https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias/faq

### When will ETIAS start?
No official date. The "last quarter of 2026" target was dropped in July 2026; the start date will be announced several months ahead, and press reports point to 2027.

### How much will ETIAS cost and how long will it last?
EUR 20, free for under-18s and over-70s. It will be valid 3 years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first, for 90 days in any 180.

### Will ETIAS be enforced from day one?
No. A 6-month transition lets you enter without one, then a 6-month grace period allows one entry without it. After that it is mandatory for visa-exempt travellers.

### How do I spot a fake ETIAS site?
Official EU pages end in europa.eu. Anything offering to "apply now", "priority processing", or charging more than EUR 20 is not the EU. If you already paid one, ask your card issuer for a chargeback and report it to your national consumer-protection body or the European Consumer Centres network.

Topic: the 90/180 rule

### How does the 90/180 rule work?
Take any day plus the 179 before it: your Schengen days in that window can't exceed 90, all countries combined. Arrival and departure days count in full. See the worked examples note. https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/travel/entry-exit/non-eu-nationals/index_en.htm

### Does leaving Schengen reset the 90 days?
No. Leaving only stops the count rising; old days drop out as the window rolls forward.

### Do days in Bulgaria, Romania, Cyprus or Ireland count?
Bulgaria and Romania count (full members since 1 January 2025). Cyprus and Ireland don't; they are outside Schengen.

### What happens if I overstay?
EES flags it at exit and keeps the record 5 years. Consequences are set per country: fines, removal, an entry ban in the Schengen Information System, and trouble with future visa or ETIAS applications.

Topic: passports

### How long must my passport be valid for Schengen?
3 months past the day you plan to leave Schengen, and issued within the last 10 years on the day you enter. Both rules apply.

### My passport is valid for 10 years plus a few months. Is that a problem?
Yes, if the issue date is more than 10 years before your arrival. The extra months carried over from an old passport don't help.

### How many blank pages do I need?
No Schengen minimum. Cyprus still stamps and some airlines ask, so keep 2 spare.

### My visa is in my old passport. What do I carry?
Both passports. The new one is linked to your EES record at your next crossing.